2009 PATCH SPRINT RACE PREDICTIONS
For the 14th consecutive year, USA Today oddsmaker Danny Sheridan makes his picks for the Patch Sprint. In 2008, Sheridan hit on only three of the six division winners.  Sheridan says, "The field gets more competitive every year.  Last year, 44 runners bettered the four hour mark.  Will 2009 be the year that the 'Janny' is captured outside of the men's open division?  It could happen, with world class runners in both women's open and master's men.  If the weather cooperates, the course record could fall, but I predict runaway victories in every competitive division"
Place	Race #	MEN'S OPEN	Age	Finish Time	The Skinny
1	1	Jason Fiegl	35	2:09:35	Falls short of course record but sets two marks for fastest mountain splits
2	3	Cole Starkey	24	2:19:52	With Fiegl running away, he stays with Kobak all the way to Pok-O
3	49	Jason Metakis	32	2:24:07	Top Five Overall for seventh time in nine races
4	5	John Richardson	29	2:36:10	Impressive last year in his first Sprint; will be even more so this time
5	4	Dan Herbert	35	2:37:59	Loves to run but not such a big fan of hiking and climbing
6	7	Jacob Gittler	17	2:39:57	Shrugs off fastest finish yet as "no big deal; I'm just doing it for fun!"
7	9	Tom Moffett	34	2:41:31	Enjoys great benefits; improved performance thanks to SLOP training
8	85	Alex Comeau	20	2:43:27	A bit hungover but Marathon veteran still puts in strong debut
9	87	Dylan Semler	25	2:44:53	Dylan Semler and Cole Starkey: Both sound like 60's poets
10	66	Euan Reid	26	2:57:47	Two hours of hard Frisbee the night before hurts his overall time
11	10	Mark Hummel	35	2:59:03	Marathon and Ultra veteran still recovering from a 50-miler
12	71	Dan Delaney	23	3:03:29	Out way too fast; on pace for a 2:45 before hitting wall on way to Pok-O
13	68	John Regentin	39	3:06:44	Race rookie was a top finisher in 2008 Megatransect 25-mile trail race
14	75	Brian DeGroat	26	3:14:08	PMOEC Spring Schedule = Lack of sufficient training time
15	62	Fraser Reid	23	3:17:22	15 minutes faster had he left the North End an hour earlier
16	52	Joe Mattimore	37	3:22:11	Bringing love to the North Country; like a summer evening on Long Pond
17	27	David Anderson	28	3:56:08	Relaxing pace, never breathing heavy; just enjoying the run
18	26	Andrew Gonzalez	13	4:01:15	Promises to stay with his brother but gets the racing bug
19	42	Alec Gonzalez	11	4:12:12	Spirited display of commitment from youngest racer in the field
20	34	Brian Adamczyk	37	4:44::45	An enthusiastic trekker disguised as a racer
Place	Race #	MEN'S MASTERS	Age	Finish Time	The Skinny
1	2	Jim Kobak	40	2:18:40	Runs his usual stellar pace; second overall and runaway division win
2	51	Ron Proud	45	2:37:55	Follows a 3:21 in Boston with his second Patch runner-up in three years
3	6	Jerry Ross	58	2:43:23	Relinquishes division title but still amazes many as second oldest in the field
4	8	Tom Lynch	47	2:46:39	Outstanding spring training leads to best finish in six years
5	31	Don Stauffer	40	3:52:19	Back in his youth he ran a 2:36.  Those were the days.
6	12	Tim Singer	50	3:53:01	Joins wife in her pursuit of Women's Masters title
7	20	John Rayburn	44	3:58:13	The four hour barrier is finally broken
8	28	David Mason	44	4:19:06	Raffle tickets and POKO stickers for sale; bring cash!
9	47	Erik Zimmerman	41	DNF	Looks strong at first but is no longer as competitive as Lynch
Place	Race #	WOMEN'S OPEN	Age	Finish Time	The Skinny
1	59	Deborah Nordyke	46	2:27:14	Second fastest women's time ever, bettered only by Nordyke in 2006
2	76	Erin Clark	28	2:56:12	Just a hunch here; she could be 30 minutes faster or slower
3	15	Susan Trzaskos	41	3:09:12	2008 Master's winner even faster the second time through the course
4	18	Stephanie Lylis	36	3:21:28	Division's most consistent racer enjoys her fastest ever finishing time
5	16	Stephanie Konowitz	38	3:26:50	Top-3 in 2008; improves time but faces a tougher field of racers
6	19	Jessica Anderson	30	3:33:22	Gets dropped by Lylis for the first time ever; still another top-6 placing
7	74	Marcie Kobak	29	3:39:49	May or may not have run at 20-mile race in Boston last year
8	65	Diana Timko	18	3:50:22	If you liked her in "Little Shop", you'll love her in "Patch Sprint"
9	32	Fiona Dubuss	25	3:52:19	One of these years she's really going to train hard be a contender
10	89	Ginny Tice	21	4:14:08	Patch forecast:  Sunny and 71.  San Diego native should be right at home
11t	63	Rebecca Blum	26	4:16:46	Facebook quote:  "One way or another we'll make it to the finish line!!"
11t	61	Lauren Glickman	26	4:16:46	Rider, Lax player, swimmer.  Not sure about her running skills.
13	77	Andrea Dinan	37	4:19:06	Dr. Dinan ran with a man to learn that she can
14	35	Rachel Newman	28	4:32:07	"Hello Newman!"
Place	Race #	WOMEN'S MASTERS	Age	Finish Time	The Skinny
1	53	Augusta Wilson	42	3:53:01	Not a personal best, but enough to get the job done
2	33	Pam Gonzalez	44	4:12:12	A ftiness junkie who does not place a high premium in distance running
3	24	Marianne Perreault	45	4:17:55	Leg problem leads to as much walking as running
Place (Net)	Race #	CLYDESDALE	Age	Finish Time	The Fat  (total time - pounds exceeding 200 = Net Time)
1	14	Ken Ryba	52	3:08:42	Third quickest time but plenty in the bank to win division
2	13	Matt Elliott	31	3:00:11	Could surprise himself and other by coming in ten minutes quicker
3	50	Marc Metakis	32	2:58:17	This will come down to a battle of who weighs more:  Elliott or Metakis
4	17	Ken Herz	49	3:27:59	200 lbs. exactly.  Only handicap he'll have is indigestion
5	25	Josh Bornt	29	4:12:53	Faster but thinner; not enough weight to jump a place or two
Place	Race #	TREKKER	Age	Finish Time	The Skinny
*** TREKKERS do not compete for placing
-	78	Joey Elton	34	3:55:35	Has spent a long winter working out in Prague; in racing shape
-	21	Kathleen Wiley	39	3:58:13	Working towards 46; great shape but chooses the enjoyable trekking pace
-	23	Brandi Bornt	31	3:59:14	Brandi wears a braided chain made of finest silver from the north of Spain
-	22	Chris Bell	51	3:59:14	Stays injury free but admits he could drop a stone or two and be faster
-	30	Peter Joelson	17	4:06:49	Needs to work on his form and shorten his stride a bit to break four hours
-	58	Andrew Lounsbury	11	4:10:16	Locks down the fastest finish amongst the six 12-and-under trekkers/racers
-	56	Karen Lounsbury	43	4:17:42	Looks like a runner.  Probably is, but enjoys trekking much more
-	67	Sue Agostino	33	4:26:18	Incline treadmill workouts help, but are no match for the mud and blowdown
-	86	Mike Konowitz	34	4:26:18	Starts out with Elton; Finishes with Agostino and Rowley
-	88	Michelle Rowley		4:26:18	Didn't put her age on registration; she may be 78
-	64	Arianne Spaulding	13	4:33:49	Quite a bit faster than her brother was at the same age
-	29	Brad Spaulding	47	4:33:49	Patch Sprint Sporting Goods Team:  Spaulding, Wilson and Bauer
-	41	Joseph Zimmerman	9	4:47:20	Jo Jo left his home in Tucson, Arizona for some Adirondack mud.  Get Back.
-	43	Chad Canning	9	4:47:23	2027 Janny winner takes his first shot at the entire course
-	44	Colden Mitchell	9	4:47:23	Patch Sprint High Peaks Team: Colden, Marcie and McIntyre
-	54	Kelly Zimmerman	39	4:47:23	Shorts or Skirt?  That is the question
-	55	Phil Corell	63	4:51:12	Trekking pioneer is the oldest finisher in the 2009 Patch Sprint
-	60	Carrie Howard-Canning	37	4:56:09	Misses turn to Fiegally; has to walk along the highway fence until the tunnel
-	79	Catherine Mitchell	45	4:56:09	First trek.  One of these days skiier/bobsledder/husband Charlie will race.
-	11	Matt Moscato	34	5:11:39	Has run, trekked, volunteered, carried and pushed.  Now he's guiding.
-	80	Sheri Hartel	42	5:16:18	Sheri, Sheri Baby, won't you come out tonight
-	48	Michael Moscato	41	5:16:18	Ends up guiding Sierra when Matt decides to cruise up Pok-O
-	45	Sierra Moscato	8	5:16:18	Vying to be the youngest ever Patch Sprinter.  74% chance at success
-	81	Tessa Smith	11	5:16:18	an asset to the Patch Sprint (first name backwards)
-	72	Katie Calhoun	37	5:19:33	Skips out of jury duty citing "important family matter"
-	36	Pam Cataldi-Gittler	45	5:19:33	Could have placed Top-5 in Women's Masters
-	37	David Gehrs	43	5:19:33	Boogs is using this to jump start his '09 hiking/running/gardening season
-	70	Sheila McIntyre	46	5:19:33	Avid hiker has been running lately:  Watch out!
-	69	Mary O'Leary	44	5:19:33	Oh Mary, don't be so leery.  This should be a piece of cake
-	84	Leah Greenman	39	5:19:33	The last Riding Director to do the Patch swam from Rattlesnake to Sugarloaf
-	72	Liudmlla Borisovna	27	5:19:33	Best showing since Top-6 at the Adzhigardak-Klyuchevskaya Caucasus Sprint
-	82	Kevin Crowley	36	5:29:27	Cole Starkey wrong turn leads to steep bushwack up the 'Loaf
-	83	Caroline Vu	32	5:29:27	Shortest last name in Patch Sprint History (second shortest:  Chu)
-	38	Dave Joelson	54	5:37:07	Crazy Mets fan.  It's their year and it may be his as well
-	40	Bob Mason	56	5:37:07	Can't be a good sign when anagram for your name is "Man Boobs"
-	39	Tom Nold	54	5:37:07	Don't worry Tom.  We'll hold up the summit group photo until you get there.
	90	Jay Bauer	36	5:49:19	No comment
-	57	Eric Bauer	32	5:49:21	Racer, Trekker, Sailor, Asst. Headmaster.  Oh yeah:  and Winter 46er
Place	Race #	KINDER SPRINT	Age	Finish Time	The Skinny
1	205	Jon Schreiner	10	0:33:57	Teams up with brother before pulling away for his first KS title
2	204	Erik Schreiner	8	0:34:24	Will set Kindersprint course record in 2010
3	215	Patrick Quinn	10	0:37:12	PQ stands for "pretty quick", but not quick enough to win
4	206	Jackson Konowitz	7	0:39:30	Aided by a couple of intense training runs on Wii Fit
5	214	Kevin Quinn	7	0:42:28	Top five in his debut and feels good the entire way
6	201	Nora Canning	7	0:46:01	Drops out of medals unless she can push one of the top five off of a cliff
7	207	Katrin Schreiner	5	0:50:52	Is nagged by a small pebble in her shoe; doesn't want to stop to remove it
8	210	Sam Anderson	6	0:51:51	Didn't time his Cliff Shots properly; bonks on the last steep part
9	213	Teaghan Proud	4	0:53:19	Proud to be a Canadian, where at least he knows she's free
10	202	Catherine Zimmerman	7	0:55:35	Comes in under one hour mark for the first time in her KS career
11	203	Luke Moffett	4	0:57:51	"Luke.  Use the Force"
12	209	Evan Anderson	4	1:03:23	100+ racers in the field; he's the only one whose initials are both vowels
13	211	Wyatt Trzaskos	3	1:05:55	Coolest name in the entire Patch Sprint field of racers
14	212	Rowan Proud	2	1:08:22	Takes a shortcut up the 5.11 Catharsis pitch
15	208	Ethan Daley	1	DQ	Runs a blistering 35-minute race; later disqualified for being assisted
		Above list based on entrants and projected entrants through May 20
		Race number based on most recent placing
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